Combat Blindness International

What Combat Blindness International does

Combat Blindness International (CBI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1984 by Dr. Suresh Chandra and headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, with operations spanning 19 countries. The organization operates a portfolio of five programs organized around a four-pillar international model (International Cataract Program, International Pediatric Program, Certified Ophthalmic Paramedic (COP) Program, and The Aadya Initiative) plus a domestic Bright Eyes Program launched in 2025. Service delivery is executed through a partnership network of more than 18 eye hospitals and organizations including Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Aravind Eye Hospital, LRBT, Lions Sight, African Vision Trust, the Botswana Ministry of Health, and the Madison Metropolitan School District.

CBI's core offering is low-cost cataract and pediatric eye-care delivery at roughly $25 per cataract surgery, supported by a custom-built smartphone screening application deployed through the 2021-launched Aadya Initiative to conduct door-to-door screenings in remote regions and dispense glasses on-site. The COP Program adds a workforce-development layer, training young women as ophthalmic paramedics (980+ trained to date, representing 80% of Dr. Shroff's workforce). The Bright Eyes Vision Van Program extends a mobile-clinic model domestically to Madison students via a partnership with Vision To Learn. Revenue mechanics are charitable: individual donations through combatblindness.org, foundation grants (Madison Community Foundation, Allergan Foundation), and planned/legacy gifts through the Visionary Society program fund operations. Go-to-market is event-driven (annual World Sight Day gala), email/newsletter-driven, and supplemented by restricted grants. No revenue or budget figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

Combat Blindness International

Legal name

Combat Blindness International

Website

https://combatblindness.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Combat Blindness International is a Madison, Wisconsin-based nonprofit founded in 1984 that eliminates preventable blindness in 19 countries through low-cost cataract surgeries, pediatric vision care, mobile screenings via a custom smartphone app, and a women's eye-care technician training program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Global Eye Health and Preventive Blindness Services

NAICS

Offices of Optometrists (62132), Optical Goods Retailers (45613)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cataract Surgery Systems & IOLs (Phaco Systems, IOLs, Intraoperative Aberrometry, Viscoelastics) (HLAHAJAH), Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment) (HLAHAJAD), Health Screening & Preventive Care Programs (Vision/Hearing/Immunization) (EDACAMAJ)

Keywords

• Preventable blindness prevention
• Cataract surgery programs
• Vision screening services
• Global eye health
• Ophthalmic training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations constitute the primary funding source for CBI's operations. The organization runs a donate button on its website and accepts planned/legacy gifts through its Visionary Society program.
2. Grant Funding: CBI receives grants from foundations including Madison Community Foundation, Allergan Foundation, and others to fund specific programs like the Aadya Initiative and pediatric eye care.
3. Planned Giving / Legacy Gifts: The organization accepts planned gifts including bequests, beneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities, and donor-advised fund contributions through their Visionary Society program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Combat Blindness International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that funds and delivers eye care programs internationally to eliminate preventable blindness. Its portfolio includes adult cataract surgeries, pediatric vision screenings, training stipends for women to become eye care technicians, and a mobile door-to-door vision screening initiative using a custom-built smartphone app. Programs are delivered through partnerships with hospitals, schools, and government health ministries across 19 countries.

Product overview

Combat Blindness International operates as a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of eye care programs built around four pillars: the International Cataract Program, International Pediatric Program, Certified Ophthalmic Paramedic (COP) Program, and The Aadya Initiative. These programs work synergistically to reduce cataract prevalence worldwide and expand access to eye care in rural areas. The Bright Eyes Program adds a domestic mobile eye clinic component serving Madison students. Programs are delivered through partnerships with hospitals, eye care institutions, and training facilities across 19 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bright Eyes Program: A program bringing follow-up eye care directly to Madison students through a mobile eye clinic (Vision Van).
• International Cataract Program
• International Pediatric Program
• Certified Ophthalmic Paramedic (COP) Program
• The Aadya Initiative
• Visionary Society

Products and services

• International Cataract Program A sight-restoring program that supports low-cost cataract surgeries and adult vision screenings internationally, with simple 20-minute surgeries that restore vision within 24 hours at approximately $25 per patient. Has supported over 3,664,224 adult vision screenings and more than 430,000 surgeries since 1984.
• International Pediatric Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,870,000+ total vision screenings performed across 19 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Vision To LearncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVision To Learn joined CBI's Bright Eyes Vision Van Program as a partner, bringing nationally recognized expertise in school-based vision care. They pioneered a model that brings eye exams and glasses directly to students at school, removing barriers such as transportation, cost, language, and parental work schedules. Their mentorship helped ensure the Bright Eyes Program is operationally strong, sustainable, and scalable.
• Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital in New Delhi, India hosts the Certified Ophthalmic Paramedic (COP) Program where CBI provides training stipends for young women to become eye care technicians. The COP women now account for 80% of the hospital's workforce.
• Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2014, CBI has partnered with MMSD to screen over 3,000 3K-5K students annually for vision problems. Only 31% of referred students previously received follow-up care, prompting the launch of the Bright Eyes Vision Van Program.
• Lions SightmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner organization working on eye care initiatives.
• LRBTmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing eye care services in their operational regions.
• L.V. Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier eye care institute in India partnering with CBI for international programs.
• Aravind Eye HospitalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading eye hospital system in India providing surgical and screening services.
• African Vision TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican-based organization focused on preventing blindness in Africa.
• Ministry of Health BotswanamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner in Botswana where CBI helped eliminate backlog of 6,000 cataract cases from Fall 2016 to Spring 2019.
• University of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology and Visual SciencesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing ophthalmology expertise and support.
• Sitapur Eye HospitalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEye hospital in India providing surgical services through CBI programs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Orbis International: Orbis International operates the Flying Eye Hospital and country programs in Asia, Africa, and Latin America providing cataract surgery, pediatric eye care, and training. Comparable to CBI's hospital-based surgical model and pediatric program, with a much larger telemedicine and clinical training infrastructure.
• Sightsavers: Sightsavers is a large international NGO focused on preventing avoidable blindness and supporting disability rights across 30+ countries. It is directly comparable to CBI for cataract surgical programs, trachoma elimination, and NTD-focused eye health work, but operates at significantly greater scale and budget.
• Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) SightFirst: LCIF's SightFirst program is one of the largest global funders of cataract surgeries and blindness prevention, partnering with local hospitals in dozens of countries. Comparable to CBI in mission and target beneficiary populations, with materially greater global funding capacity.

Direct peers

• Aravind Eye Care System: Aravind Eye Hospital is a leading high-volume, low-cost cataract surgery provider in India and a major CBI partner. Comparable to CBI's cataract program on surgical model, cost structure (as low as $10/patient historically), and rural outreach approach.
• Vision To Learn: Vision To Learn provides mobile vision clinics bringing eye exams and glasses directly to U.S. school students. CBI explicitly partnered with Vision To Learn to launch the Bright Eyes Vision Van Program in Madison, making it the most directly comparable peer for CBI's domestic school-based vision program.
• Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital: Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital is a high-volume charitable eye hospital in New Delhi that hosts CBI's COP women training program (where CBI-trained women now comprise 80% of hospital workforce). Comparable on low-cost surgical model and workforce training mission.
• Brien Holden Vision Institute Foundation: Foundation focused on vision care access in underserved communities, including refractive error correction and optometry workforce development. Overlap with CBI on glasses distribution (430,000+ pairs) and training local eye care workers.
• Himalayan Cataract Project (Cure Blindness Project): Cure Blindness Project is the closest direct peer to CBI, focused on high-volume, low-cost cataract surgery in low-income countries (Ethiopia, Nepal, India, Ghana). Shares CBI's model of partnering with local hospitals and training local clinicians for sustainable, ultra-low-cost cataract interventions.
• L.V. Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI): LVPEI is a premier Indian eye care institute providing comprehensive eye care, training, and rural vision centers. Is a major CBI partner and highly comparable on integrated care model, training programs, and rural vision center network.

Emerging players

• Peek Vision: Peek Vision builds smartphone-based vision screening and referral software used by NGOs and government health programs globally. Comparable to CBI's Aadya Initiative smartphone screening app on technology-driven community vision screening delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CombatBlindness
• Facebookfacebook.com/combatblindness

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Combat Blindness International